Ten Tips For Keeping Your Christmas Tree Looking Fresher For Longer

So you have decided to get a real Evergreen Christmas tree this year instead of the usual plastic one which is very commendable and much better for the environment. But the truth is if you don’t know what you are doing the tree will not last long at all and it might not even last long enough for Christmas! So you want to make sure it is well maintained and last as long as you need it and these ten tips will help you do just that…

Choose a Good Position

Once inside the house tries and position your Christmas tree away from any heat sources or cold spots such as radiators, open fires or cold draughty vents or windows! The heat will dry out your tree faster and sudden cold spurts will make the trees open pours close up!

Keep The Tree Hydrated

Remember to keep the Christmas tree topped up with water. They can drink an incredible 2-3 pints (1-2 litres) of water each and every day! And yes they will need it on Christmas day as well even though you will have very little spare time.

Know Your Trees

By choosing a good variety, such as a Nordman, citrus-scented Douglas fir it will mean they are more expensive than the traditional spruce trees but they will often hold their needles much, much better!

Get The Right Stand

As a general rule to follow get a stand that is 1 inch for every foot tall it is! Nothing too hard to follow here, if a tree is 6 1/2 foot get a 7-inch stand!

Don’t Plant it, Water it

Place your tree in plain water! No soil, sand or anything else which might block the pores in the bark. This is best done by just using a stand and a bucket of water directly under the main trunk.

Bring Its Temperature Up Slowly

Try not to expose the tree to sudden changes in temperature by placing it into a warm room from outside straight away. Try to leave the house as cold as possible before bringing it inside.

Saw Off That Trunk

Just before you take the Christmas tree in the house you should saw off the bottom of the trunk! The reason is it creates a fresh cut and opens up the pores in the bark which will enable the tree to drink making it much, much stronger.

Display it, But Don’t Showcase it

I know from first-hand experience that you want your tree to be the centrepiece of any festive arrangement. But consider placing the tree out of sight of any windows or main doors. This time of year thousands of homes is broken into just for the trees let alone the presents!

Toughthen it Up a Bit

Once you get your tree home don’t take it directly into the house, place the tree in a cool, dry place out of the wind for at least 24hrs. This will make the tree stronger which means fewer pine needles will fall out.

Make Sure Its Fresh

Always try to ensure you get a fresh tree. This is best done by going direct to the grower or a local Christmas tree farm. When in doubt about where it might have come from just ask!